It was strange going home for Thanksgiving for the first time. It was the first time I had to travel home for a holiday, even if it is only 70 miles away. I couldn’t help but think that this was only the beginning and that I would conceivably be traveling to go home for every Thanksgiving from now on. It’s a strange thought that one phase of my life is over and I have entered new one that will last a long time.
I felt like I was slipping back into my senior year of high school. I was with my family for longer than a weekend, I was seeing my old friends, I returned to my old job to earn some extra money. All in all, I felt like I had gone back in time a few months. It was like I had never left for college; except of course for the fact that I was living out of a suitcase.
With winter break coming up I can’t think but how comfortable it will be to fall back into old ways. I’ll be doing chores, meeting up with high school friends, working part time and, of course, getting in holiday mode. It wouldn’t be winter break without Christmas cookies and shopping for presents while listening to Christmas music every waking minute. I could almost pretend it’s a year earlier and I haven’t left for college yet. Ah, life was simpler.
Looking back, a year ago I was still waiting to hear from UF and my biggest concern was wondering if I was going to be able to meet up with friends after work on a Friday night. Now, I think about writing papers, doing well in classes, finding a job and paying loans. The holidays will be a welcome break before a more rigorous spring semester.
I am excited for winter break. As much as I have to come to like being at UF, I can’t help but be glad that I will have almost three and a half weeks to spend at home living my old life.
